William "Bill" Ready

William “Bill” Ready had a heart of gold, he was a good friend, proud Grandpa and loving Father. He was manly and gruff on the outside and soft as a teddy bear on the inside. At the age of 79, Bill passed away Thursday, November 23, 2023 at Javon Bea Hospital near Rockford. A Celebration of life service will be held 6pm Thursday, November 30, 2023 at Law Jones Funeral Home in Savanna, with a visitation held 4 – 6pm, prior to the service. In honor of Bill you are invited to wear your Chicago Bears apparel.

Bill was born November 16, 1944, the son of Clarence and Bernice Ready, living in Hanover, then attending Savanna Schools. As a young man he enjoyed growing up in a river town and fit in with the rough and tumble lifestyle of a railroad community. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing with friends and family. On February 14, 1979, Bill married the love of his life, Darlene Ritenour. They celebrated thirty-two years of marriage prior to Darlene’s passing in 2011.

Bill was a member of the Savanna Moose Lodge, the Mississippi Flyway Gun Club, NRA and the United Steel Workers Union. Bill was a die-hard Chicago Bears fan. He worked 31 years for Chrysler at the Belvidere Plant as an Assembler and took pride in the vehicles he helped build. During these years he lived in Belvidere, then moved to Mt. Carroll where he and Darlene lived.

He appreciated his friendships that he made, whether that was at work, hunting or playing cards with his buddies. His card group would often call him “Wild Bill” as he wasn’t afraid to take a risk and go all-in. That’s also the way he lived. He gave it his all, and would give it all to help anyone. Those who knew Bill appreciated and loved his rough around the edges style, and knew he was full of compassion and love.

Bill will be dearly missed. He is survived by three sons, Brad (Taylor) Ready of Clinton, Iowa, Brian Haines of Burlington, Iowa and Curtis Haines of Panama Beach City, Florida; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and a brother, Raymond (Kay) Ready of Corpus Christi, Texas. Bill is preceded in death by two sisters, Gladys Funk and Dorothy Ready, both parents, and his wife, Darlene.